“Faithfulness to tradition does not mean mere perpetuation or copying of ways from the past, but a creative recovery of the past as a source of inspiration and guidance in our faithfulness to God’s future.” Martin Smith, founder of the American branch of an Anglican community, the Society of St. John the Evangelist, known also as the Cowley Fathers.
As we begin another Oblate season in Tucson, I chose the above quote to reflect our focus for the coming year. Speaking of historic religious sites, Esther de Waal writes: “We revere and honor the past, but we do not see these as dead and fossilized stones – they are living stones carrying the past into the future…. We need to be loyal to the past but we must not be encumbered by it…. The Benedictine vows illustrate this well when they establish the paradox of keeping stability in tension with conversatio morum, which is roughly translated as the commitment to change, to the ongoing journey and whatever may lie ahead. It is thus a question of holding the balance. While we need the past, we must not let ourselves become imprisoned by it or allow it to become an idol.”[1] Whether you will be in Tucson or not, these are wise words to ponder.
TUCSON: Next meeting - Sunday, September 20, 2:00 p.m., doors open at 1:15 p.m.
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Candidates meet on stage at 1:30 p.m. Sr. Joan Therese will lead a discussion of the Liturgy of the Hours, pg. 20 in the folder – new candidates let me know if you don’t have a folder. It is available also online at http://www.benedictineoblates.com/downloads/Benedictine_Spirituality_Introductory_Conferences.pdf .
TUCSON: Next meeting - Sunday, September 20, 2:00 p.m., doors open at 1:15 p.m.
* * * * *
Candidates meet on stage at 1:30 p.m. Sr. Joan Therese will lead a discussion of the Liturgy of the Hours, pg. 20 in the folder – new candidates let me know if you don’t have a folder. It is available also online at http://www.benedictineoblates.com/downloads/Benedictine_Spirituality_Introductory_Conferences.pdf .
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Tucson Deans meeting On July 25 the Tucson deans met to plan the next year of study for the Tucson chapter. The subjects that most interested us were the history of Christian monasticism and Benedictine spirituality (expanding on subjects in our Introductory Conferences workbook.) All meetings are on 3rd Sundays.
September 20: The state of Oblates today: A report on the Oblate Directors meeting at St. Vincent’s, by those who represented us: Bette and Lance Dickinson, and Sr. Lenora, using a Power Point projection adapted from the one made by Mike Schroeder, the East Valley delegate.
October 18: Humility – Presentation by Sr. Joan Therese
November 15: Hospitality – presentation by Sr. Lenora; showing of new 20-minute, professionally made documentary, “Miracles in Mexico,” about Deacon Joe Bogushefsky’s work in Mexico, to which some of us contributed. You can actually view this now in small format on the Internet at: http://www.poverty24-6.org/ or http://www.groodyriverfilms.com/miracles/miracles.html
December 20 Renewal Day – In the morning, Sr. Dolores Dowling, OSB, author of “In Your Midst,” the history of our Congregation, will share her insights on our history. In the afternoon, Fr. Alex Mills, pastor of St. Anne’s in Tubac, will give an illustrated presentation on spirituality as reflected in art throughout history. His background is Benedictine and he will highlight that aspect.
January 17: Patty Williams, from Phoenix, our delegate to the World Congress of Oblates in Rome, will give an illustrated presentation on her experience.
February 21: Holiness and Wholeness – Oblates Mila Aroskar and Roger Pierce
March 21 (Feast of St. Benedict): St. Benedict – Sr. Lenora
April 18: Contemplative prayer (adoration, silent prayer, etc.) Lance Dickinson and ?
May 15 (renewal day): Monastic history (details to be worked out later)
Using our resources Some Oblates will remember the conferences given by Sister Dawn Annette on monastic history when she was Oblate director here. These were taped and we have several sets of the audiocassettes on hand. In order to make use of these while some people still have the equipment to play them, these tapes will be available to check out, and I encourage you to do so. They are both informative and entertaining, and will be good (painless!) background for our study this year.
Books and book reviews Except on renewal days, we will have a couple of brief book reviews (not more than 5 minutes each) of books in the Oblate library. If you could do a review, would you let me know? Mila and I will review two books in September. After that I hope we will have lots of volunteers!
We plan on culling some of the older, less used books in the library to make room for new books, and it would be a BIG help if you could return any books you may have taken out and forgotten, so we know exactly what books we actually have, and what we need to replace.
May renewal day Oblate Jane Wood led a very helpful renewal day focused on the Benedictine commitments and writing a personal Rule of Life. As always, we were happy to have the folks from Phoenix with us. At noon we received the oblations of Sharon Keene and Pat Pettis from Tucson, and Martha Valenzuela from the East Valley; Carole Ambroziak, David Cedor, E. Armenta, Patricia Rodriguez and Donna Daniel were enrolled as Tucson candidates.
PRAYERS REQUESTED: Ann Dinkelman, East Valley Oblate, has had serious cancer surgery, and Oblates in the Phoenix area are visiting her when Ann has strength to receive them.
Denise Brogna, Tucson Oblate, leaves for Mexico September 1, for a year working and living with girls who come down from the mountains there, staying at a Franciscan convent while attending public high school. She invites us to follow her blog at www.denisetravelblog.com , where she will post pictures and tell about her stay there.
Helen Sexton, who was looking forward to being enrolled as an Oblate candidate in Tucson, has had to move for health reasons to Columbus, Ohio. Her email address remains budanel@gmail.com .
PRESCOTT: Next meeting – Sunday, September 13, 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the St. Anthony Mary Claret room, lower level of Sacred Heart Church, 150 Fleury Avenue in Prescott
Nancy Hinshaw writes: The Prescott Area Chapter will begin meeting once again at Sacred Heart Parish Center from on September 13. The Oblates and Candidates welcome guests who would like to get to know more about Benedictine spirituality and shared prayer. We are continuing our study of "Seeds of Faith" by Jeremy Langford, published by Paraclete Press.
For more information, contact Nancy Hinshaw, (928) 445-1271.
PHOENIX CENTRAL: Next meeting - Saturday, September 12 at 9:15 Mary Gibson writes: The Phoenix Chapter met on Saturday, August 15th. This was the last meeting in the Activity Center. The group will meet in another room in September but still at St. Thomas the Apostle. Watch for the signs. The next meeting is September 12. Please feel free to join us for Morning Prayer. Blessings!
If you have any questions, please call Mary Gibson at 602-954-8408 or e-mail mtmlgibson@aol.com.
PHOENIX EAST VALLEY: Next meeting - Saturday, September 26.
Nancy Kaib writes: We continue to pray for Ann Dinkelman, who is battling cancer. She is now in a nursing facility where she is trying to build up her strength in anticipation of having chemotherapy treatments. Our September meeting will he held on Saturday, September 26.
For more information call Nancy Kaib (480-883-8025) or Frank Young (480-219-1505).
SPECIAL EVENTS
There are two events for which you can access flyers online, and I hope Tucsonans will take time to do so. These events are part of our Preserving Our Heritage Campaign. Briefly, on Sunday, September 20, (Oblate meeting day) from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00, there will be a fundraising dance and raffle at the Casino Ballroom, 437 East 26th St. You can access the flyer at http://www.tucsonmonastery.com/pdf/dance2.pdf . There are lots of great raffle items, including a very comfortable rocker/recliner worth about $500, an icon by our Sr. Carmela, health club memberships, a basket of homemade soaps and lotions, gift certificates for professional massage, restaurants, hair salon, as well as a noon meal for two at the monastery. You can buy tickets at the door, or in advance, at the monastery gift shop: $5.00 for the dance, $5.00 each for raffle tickets. Winning raffle tickets will be drawn at intervals during the dance.
On Saturday, November 21, there will be a major concert event at the monastery, and you can access the flyer for this at http://www.tucsonmonastery.com/pdf/novConcert.pdf . The Tucson Boys Chorus will perform the world premiere of Frederic Balazs’ setting of Prayers from the Ark, and the eminent Danish pianist, Torsten Juul-Borre will also perform. There will be two performances: 3 pm and 7 pm. Tickets at $50 each are on sale at the monastery gift shop.
If any of you can help sell tickets for or at the dance or for the concert, WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS!
Blessings,
Lenora Black, OSB
Benedictine Monastery
800 N. Country Club Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85716-4583
email: benpubctr@bspa.tuccoxmail.com or lenora@bspa.us